Can opener



K C E L R. K

CAN'OPENER Filed ngc. 12, 1941 Za. f

Patented Apr. 27, 1943 UNITED STATES PATN' OFFICE CAN OPENER Karl Robert Leck, Chicago, Ill.

Application December 12, 1941, Serial No. 422,654

6 Claims.

This invention relates to can openers. It is particularly directed to a tool for making holes or perforations in milk cans or fruit juice cans, or other cans containing liquid.

An object of this invention is to provide a neat, rugged and `durable tool of the character described, which shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, easy to manipulate, safe in use, and which shall yet be practical and eicient to a high degree.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing, in which is shown one of the various possible illustrative embodiments of this invention,

Fig. l'is a front elevational view of a tool embodying the invention shown in position for perforating the can;

Fig. 2 is an elevational, cross-sectional View of a can provided with a tool embodying the invention;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Fig. l, with parts broken away and in crosssection;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the tool embodying the invention; v

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a front end view of the tool taken on line 6--6 of Fig. 4.

Referring now in detail, Ill designates a tool embodying the invention for perforating the top of a can Il. The can II may be a can of milk, fruit juice, or any other liquid containing can, which is to be perforated so that the liquid may be poured therefrom. The can II has a top wall I2 and a rim I3 at its upper end formed with a shoulder I4 at its lower end.

The tool I comprises a pair of interpivoted members I and I1 pivoted together by a pivot pin I8. Member i6 comprises a member I 3 having a fiat portion disposed in a vertical plane, and inclined upwardly and formed with an opening 2l at an intermediate portion thereof to receive the riveted pivot pin I 8. Said portion 2S is twisted at its upper end as at 24 intr.` a horizontal plane, and extending therefrom is a at handle portion 25.

Attached to the front end of portion 20 of member I9, is an arcuate part cylindrical member 35 having teeth or serrations 3l at its upper edge. The front end of portion 23 may be riveted or otherwise attached to the central portion of member 30.

Fixed to member 3B of opposite sides of the mid portion thereof, are Ia pair of similar angular tabs 35 each having a vertical portion 36 contacting the rear of member and riveted thereto by a rivet 31, and a forwardly extending tongue 38 at the upper end of portion 35. The tongues 38 are adapted to engage the top wall I2 of the can, whereas, the teeth 3| are adapted to engage the shoulder I4 of the rim I 3 of the can.

Member Il comprises a member 43 disposed in a vertical plane having a forwardly and upwardly inclined portion 4I formed with an opening 42 at an intermediate portion thereof, to receive the pivot pin I8. Extending rearwardly from portion 4I is a horizontally extending handle portion 43. Extending forwardly from the upper end of portion 4I, is a flattened horizontal portion 44, to which is attached a conical prong 45 extending downwardly, and disposed forwardly of the can engaging portion 33. The prong 45 may be riveted to portion 44 of member 40, as at 41.

The manner of perforating a can by means of the tool I 0, will now be explained.

The members I3 and Il are first swung open. Portion 30 is then placed against the body of the can and moved upwardly until the teeth 3| engage the underedge or shoulder I4 of rim I3.

It will be noted that the rivets 31 which attach members to member 35, have heads 31a on the inner sides thereof adapted to contact the can, so as to permit tilting of member 30 forwardly so that the teeth 3| may engage the shoulder I4. The handles 25 and 43 are then pressed together, so that the prong 45 pierces the top wall I2 of the can. The handles 25 and 43 may then be swung open to release the prong from the top wall. Since the prong is conical, it will easily move out of the opening or perforation formed in said top Wall.

The tabs 38, together with member 30, serve to hold member IS while member II is swung relatively thereto, to facilitate manipulation of the instrument for perforating the can and removing the prong from the perforation.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions or" practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

l. A tool comprising a pair of interpivoted members having rearwardly extending handles and forwardly extending jaws, one of the jaws being formed with a downwardly extending prong, the other jaw being formed with an arcuate portion, and angular tabs fixed to said arcuate portion, formed with forwardly extending tongues disposed above said arcuate portion,

said arcuate portion being formed with teeth at its upper edge, said tabs being attached to said arcuate portion by rivets having heads at the inner side of said arcuate portion. f

2. A tool comprising a pair of interpivoted f members having rearwardly extending handles and forwardly extending jaws, one of the jaws being formed with a downwardly extending prong, the other jaw being formed with an arcuate portion, and angular tabs fixed to said arcuate -1 portion, formed with forwardly extending tongues disposed above said arcuate portion, said arcuate portion being formed with teeth at its upper edge, said tabs being attached to said arcuate portion by rivets having heads at the inner side of said arcuate portion, said prong being conical in shape.

3. A tool of the character described, comprising a pair of interpivoted members, one of said members comprising a portion disposed in a vertical plane and being inclined upwardly and rearwardly, and formed with an opening at an intermediate portion thereof, said portion oi' said member being twisted at its rear upper end and having a handle portion lying in a horizontal plane extending from said twisted portion, an arcuate member fixed to the forward end of the first portion of said member, a pair of angular members attached to said arcuate member, having upwardly extending portions and forwardly extending portions, the second pivoted member comprising a member disposed in a vertical plane and having an upwardly and forwardly inclined portion formed with a through opening registering with the first opening, and a rearwardly extending handle portion and a forwardly extending flattened portion disposed in a horizontal plane, a pivot pin passing through said registering openings, and a prong fixed to the forwardly extending flattened portion of said second pivoted member.

4. A tool of the character described, comprising a pair of interpivoted members, one of said members comprising a portion disposed in a vertical plane and being inclined upwardly and rearwardly, and formed with an opening at an intermediate portion thereof, said portion of said member being twisted at its rear upper end and having a handle portion lying in a horizontal plane extending from said twisted portion, an arcuate member fixed to the forward end of the first portion of said member, a pair of angular members attached to said arcuate member, having upwardly extending portions and forwardly extending portions, the second pivoted member comprising a. member disposed in a vertical plane and having an upwardly and forwardly inclined portion formed with a through opening registering with the rst opening, and a rearwardly extending handle portion and a forwardly extending attened portion disposed in a horizontal plane, a pivot pin passing through said registering openings, and a prong fixed to the forwardly extending flattened portion of said second pivoted member, the upper edge of said arcuate member being formed with teeth.

5. A tool comprising a pair of interpivoted members having rearwardly extending handle portions and forwardly extending portions, one of said handle portions being disposed in a horizontal plane and the other handle portion being disposed in a vertical plane, one of said forwardly extending portions having a part disposed in a horizontal plane, a downwardly extending prong riveted at its upper end to said part, an arcuate portion of sheet metal, xed to the other forwardly extending portion, angular tabs xed to said arcuate portion and formed with forwardly extending tongues disposed above said arcuate portion.

6. A tool comprising a pair of interpivoted members having rearwardly extending handle portions and forwardly extending portions, one of said handle portions being disposed in a horizontal plane and the other handle portion being disposed in a vertical plane, one of said forwardly extending portions having a part disposed in a horizontal plane, a downwardly extending prong riveted at its upper end to said part, an arcuate portion of sheet metal, xed to the other forwardly extending portion, angular tabs fixed to said arcuate portion and formed with forwardly extending tongues disposed above said arcuate portion the upper edge of said arcuate portion being serrated to form gripping teeth.

KARL ROBERT LECK. 

